Method and apparatus for displaying conference material in video conference

ABSTRACT

A method and an apparatus for displaying a conference material in a video conference. The method includes determining a position coordinate of a first specified user at a conference site; collecting a video image signal of the conference site, segmenting the video image signal of the conference site according to the position coordinate to acquire a video image signal of the first specified user, and acquiring a video data signal of a displayed conference material; and synthesizing the video image signal of the first specified user and the video data signal of the conference material into one channel of encoded video signal, and sending the channel of encoded video signal to another conference site for signal decoding and for displaying on a same display screen at the other conference site.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Application No.PCT/CN2013/085260, filed on Oct. 15, 2013, which claims priority toChinese Patent Application No. 201310140460.X, filed on Apr. 22, 2013,both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of video communicationtechnologies, and in particular, to a method and an apparatus fordisplaying a conference material in a video conference.

BACKGROUND

With the development of video encoding and network technologies, thereis an increasing tendency for wide application of network videos. Oneapplication manner of network videos is videoconferencing. Avideoconferencing technology is a technology in which correspondingcompression processing is performed after site information of a partyparticipating in communication is collected using video and audiocollection devices and digitized, and then a digital signal istransferred through an available communication channel/line to a remoteend for decompression, restoration, and reproduction. That is, a videoconference is a conference that integrates a video, audio, and datacommunication, and images and sounds of conference sites can betransmitted in real time so that the conference sites are in oneconference logically but are not within one area physically. Comparedwith a conventional conference, a video conference is highly efficientand cost-effective, and has advantages such as an effect of simulating areal scenario, which not only can resolve an issue of long-distancecommunication, but also satisfies a requirement of users forface-to-face communication; therefore, video conferences are more widelyapplied in companies. FIG. 1A is a schematic structural diagram of avideoconferencing system in the prior art. The videoconferencing systemincludes a multi-point control unit (MCU) and a conference endpoint.

At present, each conference site in a videoconferencing system has atleast one conference endpoint. A specific structure of avideoconferencing system is shown in FIG. 1B. Each conference endpointcollects and encodes a sound and an image of a conference site of theconference endpoint and sends the encoded sound and image to an MCU; theMCU sends the processed sound and image and a conference material toother conference endpoints in a video conference; and each of the otherconference endpoints decodes and outputs the sound and image of theremote conference site and the conference material, thereby implementingremote video communication. There are two manners for displaying aconference material.

One manner is that there are multiple desktop material display screensin a videoconferencing system, a main display screen that displaysconference participants is separated from the desktop material displayscreens that display a conference material, and one or more conferenceparticipants share one desktop material display screen. For details,refer to FIG. IC. A main function of the desktop material display screenis to demonstrate various electronic materials in a remote conference.

The other manner is that there is one material display screen in avideoconferencing system, a main display screen that displays conferenceparticipants is separated from the material display screen that displaysa conference material, and all conference participants at one conferencesite share one material display screen. For details, refer to FIG. 1D. Amain function of the material display screen is to demonstrate variouselectronic materials in the conference.

During the foregoing process of implementing a conventional videoconference, a system for implementing the video conference requires onemain display screen that displays conference participants and at leastone material display screen that displays a conference material, and themain display screen is separated from the material display screen.During the implementation process, the two types of devices need to beoperated separately. Because the two types of display screen devices areseparated, the videoconferencing system cannot be moved easily and hasrelatively poor flexibility. In addition, the two types of displayscreen devices are usually placed at different positions of a conferencesite, and connection lines in and between the display screen devices arelarge in quantity and complex, so that arrangement of the conferencesite is restricted and a fault easily occurs in the connection lines;therefore, a high maintenance requirement is imposed. Further, a keynotespeaker and the conference material are not on a same screen. Anotherconference participant who needs to pay attention to the keynote speakerand the conference material at the same time needs to constantly shift aline of sight within a relatively wide range between the keynote speakerand the conference material. As a result, conference efficiency isrelatively low, and user experience is affected.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for displaying aconference material in a remote conference, which is used to resolveproblems in the prior art that a videoconferencing system cannot bemoved easily and has relatively poor flexibility and relatively highmaintenance costs, and that conference efficiency is relatively low.

According to a first aspect, a method for displaying a conferencematerial in a video conference is provided, including determining aposition coordinate of a first specified user at a conference site;collecting a video image signal of the conference site, and segmenting,according to the position coordinate, the video image signal of theconference site to acquire a video image signal of the first specifieduser; and acquiring a video data signal of a displayed conferencematerial, synthesizing the video image signal of the first specifieduser and the video data signal of the conference material into onechannel of encoded video signal, and sending the channel of encodedvideo signal to another conference site for signal decoding and fordisplaying on a same display screen at the another conference site.

With reference to the first aspect, in a first possible implementationmanner, the method further includes determining a position coordinate ofat least one second specified user, who is at the same conference siteas the first specified user, at the conference site; and segmenting thevideo image signal of the conference site according to the determinedthe position coordinate of the at least one second specified user toacquire a video image signal of each second specified user; and thesynthesizing the video image signal of the first specified user and thevideo data signal of the conference material into one channel of encodedvideo signal includes synthesizing the video image signals of the firstspecified user and the at least one second specified user and the videodata signal of the conference material into one channel of encoded videosignal.

With reference to the first aspect or the first possible implementationmanner of the first aspect, in a second possible implementation manner,the method further includes determining the position coordinate of thespecified user at the conference site by means of a sound localizationtechnology; or determining, based on a locator, the position coordinateof the specified user at the conference site.

With reference to the first aspect or the first possible implementationmanner of the first aspect, in a third possible implementation manner,the segmenting the video image signal of the conference site accordingto the position coordinate to acquire the video image signal of thespecified user includes matching the position coordinate with spatialposition coordinates of the video image signal of the conference site toobtain a position of the video image signal of the specified user in thevideo image signal of the conference site; determining a video image ofthe specified user according to a video image signal at the position bymeans of a facial recognition technology; and segmenting the video imagesignal of the conference site at a preset distance from the image of thespecified user to acquire the video image signal of the specified user.

According to a second aspect, a method for displaying a conferencematerial in a video conference is provided, including receiving a videoimage signal of a first specified user and a video data signal of aconference material that are sent from another conference site;synthesizing, into one channel of encoded video signal, the video imagesignal of the first specified user and the video data signal of theconference material that are received; and decoding the synthesizedencoded video signal, and displaying the decoded signal on a samedisplay screen at a local conference site.

With reference to the second aspect, in a first possible implementationmanner, the method further includes receiving a video image signal,which is sent from the another conference site, of at least one secondspecified user at the same conference site as the first specified user;and the synthesizing, into one channel of encoded video signal, thevideo image signal of the first specified user and the video data signalof the conference material that are received includes separatelysynthesizing, into one channel of encoded video signal, the video imagesignal of the first specified user, the video image signal of the atleast one second specified user, and the video data signal of theconference material that are received.

According to a third aspect, a method for displaying a conferencematerial in a video conference is provided, including obtaining onechannel of encoded video signal into which a video image signal of afirst specified user and a video data signal of a conference materialare synthesized; decoding the obtained channel of encoded video signal,and virtually segmenting a display screen at a local conference siteinto a preset quantity of display subscreens; and displaying a videoimage, which is obtained through decoding, of the conference material onat least one display subscreen obtained through segmentation in thedisplay screen, and displaying a video image, which is obtained throughdecoding, of the first specified user on another at least one displaysubscreen obtained through segmentation in the display screen.

With reference to the third aspect, in a first possible implementationmanner, the obtained channel of encoded video signal further includes avideo image signal of at least one second specified user; and the methodfurther includes displaying a video image, which is obtained throughdecoding, of the at least one second specified user on the another atleast one display subscreen obtained through segmentation.

With reference to the third aspect, in a second possible implementationmanner, the displaying a video image, which is obtained throughdecoding, of the conference material on at least one display subscreenobtained through segmentation in the display screen includes displayingthe video image, which is obtained through decoding, of the conferencematerial on at least two adjacent display subscreens obtained throughsegmentation in the display screen.

With reference to the third aspect or the first possible implementationmanner of the third aspect, in a third possible implementation manner,the displaying the video image, which is obtained through decoding, ofthe specified user on the another at least one display subscreenobtained through segmentation in the display screen includes displayinga video image, which is obtained through decoding, of each specifieduser on any display subscreen obtained through segmentation in thedisplay screen; or displaying video images, which are obtained throughdecoding, of at least two specified users on any display subscreenobtained through segmentation in the display screen.

With reference to the third aspect, in a fourth possible implementationmanner, the displaying a video image, which is obtained throughdecoding, of the conference material on at least one display subscreenobtained through segmentation in the display screen, and displaying avideo image, which is obtained through decoding, of the first specifieduser on another at least one display subscreen obtained throughsegmentation in the display screen includes displaying the video image,which is obtained through decoding, of the first specified user on adisplay subscreen that is selected from all display subscreens and thatis obtained through segmentation in the display screen; and displayingthe video image, which is obtained through decoding, of the conferencematerial on a display subscreen that is adjacent to the selected displaysubscreen and is close to a central area of the display screen.

With reference to the third aspect or the first possible implementationmanner of the third aspect, in a fifth possible implementation manner,the method further includes, when a role of a second specified user ischanged to a role of the first specified user, determining at least onedisplay subscreen adjacent to a display subscreen displaying a videoimage of the second specified user whose role is changed; anddisplaying, in an interchanging manner, a video image in the at leastone display subscreen, which originally displays the video image of theconference material, and a video image in the determined at least onedisplay subscreen.

With reference to the third aspect or the first possible implementationmanner of the third aspect, in a sixth possible implementation manner,the method further includes, when a second specified user speaks,determining at least one display subscreen that is adjacent to thedisplay subscreen displaying the video image of the conference materialand is different from the display subscreen displaying the video imageof the first specified user; and displaying, in an interchanging manner,a video image in a display subscreen, which originally displays a videoimage of the second specified user who speaks, and a video image in thedetermined at least one display subscreen.

According to a fourth aspect, an apparatus for displaying a conferencematerial in a video conference is provided, including a determining unitconfigured to determine a position coordinate of a first specified userat a conference site; an image signal acquiring unit configured tocollect a video image signal of the conference site, segment the videoimage signal of the conference site according to the position coordinatedetermined by the determining unit to acquire a video image signal ofthe first specified user, and acquire a video data signal of a displayedconference material; and a communications unit configured to synthesizethe video image signal of the first specified user and the video datasignal of the conference material that are acquired by the image signalacquiring unit into one channel of encoded video signal, and send thechannel of encoded video signal to another conference site for signaldecoding and for displaying on a same display screen at the anotherconference site.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in a first possible implementationmanner, the determining unit is further configured to determine aposition coordinate of at least one second specified user, who is at thesame conference site as the first specified user, at the conferencesite; the image signal acquiring unit is further configured to segmentthe video image signal of the conference site according to the positioncoordinate, which are determined by the determining unit, of the atleast one second specified user to acquire a video image signal of eachsecond specified user; and the communications unit is configured tosynthesize the video image signals of the first specified user and theat least one second specified user and the video data signal of theconference material that are separately acquired by the image signalacquiring unit into one channel of encoded video signal, and send thechannel of encoded video signal to another conference site for signaldecoding and for displaying on a same display screen at the anotherconference site.

With reference to the fourth aspect or the first possible implementationmanner of the fourth aspect, in a second possible implementation manner,the determining unit is configured to determine the position coordinateof the specified user at the conference site by means of a soundlocalization technology; or determine, based on a locator, the positioncoordinate of the specified user at the conference site.

With reference to the fourth aspect or the first possible implementationmanner of the fourth aspect, in a third possible implementation manner,the image signal acquiring unit is configured to match the positioncoordinate with spatial position coordinates of the video image signalof the conference site to obtain a position of the video image signal ofthe specified user in the video image signal of the conference site;determine a video image of the specified user according to a video imagesignal at the position by means of a facial recognition technology; andsegment the video image signal of the conference site at a presetdistance from the image of the specified user to acquire the video imagesignal of the specified user.

According to a fifth aspect, a conference endpoint is provided,including an image signal processor configured to determine a positioncoordinate of a first specified user at a conference site, collect avideo image signal of the conference site, segment the video imagesignal of the conference site according to the position coordinate toacquire a video image signal of the first specified user, and acquire avideo data signal of a displayed conference material; an image signalmultiplexer configured to synthesize the video image signal of the firstspecified user and the video data signal of the conference material thatare acquired by the image signal processor into one channel of encodedvideo signal; and a signal transceiver configured to send the channel ofencoded video signal synthesized by the image signal multiplexer toanother conference site for signal decoding and for displaying on a samedisplay screen at the another conference site.

With reference to the fifth aspect, in a first possible implementationmanner, the image signal processor is further configured to determine aposition coordinate of at least one second specified user, who is at thesame conference site as the first specified user, at the conferencesite; and segment the video image signal of the conference siteaccording to the determined the position coordinate of the at least onesecond specified user to acquire a video image signal of each secondspecified user; and the image signal multiplexer is configured tosynthesize the video image signals of the first specified user and theat least one second specified user and the video data signal of theconference material that are separately acquired by the image signalprocessor into one channel of encoded video signal.

With reference to the fifth aspect or the first possible implementationmanner of the fifth aspect, in a second possible implementation manner,the image signal processor is configured to determine the positioncoordinate of the specified user at the conference site by means of asound localization technology; or determine, based on a locator, theposition coordinate of the specified user at the conference site.

With reference to the fifth aspect or the first possible implementationmanner of the fifth aspect, in a third possible implementation manner,the image signal processor is configured to match the positioncoordinate with spatial position coordinates of the video image signalof the conference site to obtain a position of the video image signal ofthe specified user in the video image signal of the conference site;determine a video image of the specified user according to a video imagesignal at the position by means of a facial recognition technology; andsegment the video image signal of the conference site at a presetdistance from the image of the specified user to acquire the video imagesignal of the specified user.

According to a sixth aspect, an apparatus for displaying a conferencematerial in a video conference is provided, including a communicationsunit configured to receive a video image signal of a first specifieduser and a video data signal of a conference material that are sent fromanother conference site, and synthesize, into one channel of encodedvideo signal, the video image signal of the first specified user and thevideo data signal of the conference material that are received; and apresentation unit configured to decode the encoded video signalsynthesized by the communications unit, and display the decoded signalon a same display screen at a local conference site.

With reference to the sixth aspect, in a first possible implementationmanner, the communications unit is further configured to receive a videoimage signal, which is sent from the another conference site, of atleast one second specified user at the same conference site as the firstspecified user, and synthesize the received video image signal of the atleast one second specified user into the synthesized channel of encodedvideo signal.

According to a seventh aspect, a conference endpoint is provided,including a signal transceiver configured to receive a video imagesignal of a first specified user and a video data signal of a conferencematerial that are sent from another conference site; an image signalmultiplexer configured to synthesize, into one channel of encoded videosignal, the video image signal of the first specified user and the videodata signal of the conference material that are received by the signaltransceiver; and a display configured to decode the encoded video signalsynthesized by the image signal multiplexer, and display the decodedsignal on a same display screen at a local conference site.

With reference to the seventh aspect, in a first possible implementationmanner, the signal transceiver is further configured to receive a videoimage signal, which is sent from the another conference site, of atleast one second specified user at the same conference site as the firstspecified user; and the image signal multiplexer is configured tosynthesize, into one channel of encoded video signal, the video imagesignals of the first specified user and the at least one secondspecified user and the video data signal of the conference material thatare received by the signal transceiver.

According to an eighth aspect, an apparatus for displaying a conferencematerial in a video conference is provided, including a signal decodingunit configured to obtain one channel of encoded video signal into whicha video image signal of a first specified user and a video data signalof a conference material are synthesized, and decode the obtainedchannel of encoded video signal; a screen segmentation unit configuredto virtually segment a display screen at a local conference site into apreset quantity of display subscreens; and a presentation unitconfigured to display a video image, which is obtained by the signaldecoding unit through decoding, of the conference material on at leastone display subscreen obtained by the screen segmentation unit throughsegmentation, and display a video image, which is obtained by the signaldecoding unit through decoding, of the first specified user on anotherat least one display subscreen obtained by the screen segmentation unitthrough segmentation.

With reference to the eighth aspect, in a first possible implementationmanner, the channel of encoded video signal obtained by the signaldecoding unit further includes a video image signal of at least onesecond specified user; and the presentation unit is further configuredto display a video image, which is obtained by the signal decoding unitthrough decoding, of the at least one second specified user on anotherat least one display subscreen obtained by the screen segmentation unitthrough segmentation.

With reference to the eighth aspect, in a second possible implementationmanner, the presentation unit is configured to display the video image,which is obtained by the signal decoding unit through decoding, of theconference material on at least two adjacent display subscreens obtainedby the screen segmentation unit through segmentation.

With reference to the first possible implementation manner of the eighthaspect, in a third possible implementation manner, the presentation unitis configured to display a video image, which is obtained by the signaldecoding unit through decoding, of each specified user on any displaysubscreen obtained by the screen segmentation unit through segmentation;or display video images, which are obtained by the signal decoding unitthrough decoding, of at least two specified users on any displaysubscreen obtained by the screen segmentation unit through segmentation.

With reference to the eighth aspect, in a fourth possible implementationmanner, the presentation unit is configured to display the video image,which is obtained by the signal decoding unit through decoding, of thefirst specified user on any display subscreen obtained by the screensegmentation unit through segmentation; and display the video image,which is obtained by the signal decoding unit through decoding, of theconference material on a display subscreen that is adjacent to theselected display subscreen and is close to a central area of the displayscreen.

With reference to the first possible implementation manner of the eighthaspect, in a fifth possible implementation manner, the presentation unitis further configured to, when a role of a second specified user ischanged to a role of the first specified user, determine at least onedisplay subscreen adjacent to a display subscreen displaying a videoimage of the second specified user whose role is changed; and display,in an interchanging manner, a video image in the at least one displaysubscreen, which originally displays the video image of the conferencematerial, and a video image in the determined at least one displaysubscreen.

With reference to the first possible implementation manner of the eighthaspect, in a sixth possible implementation manner, the presentation unitis further configured to, when a second specified user speaks, determineat least one display subscreen that is adjacent to the display subscreendisplaying the video image of the conference material and is differentfrom the display subscreen displaying the video image of the firstspecified user; and display, in an interchanging manner, a video imagein a display subscreen, which originally displays a video image of thesecond specified user who speaks, and a video image in the determined atleast one display subscreen.

According to a ninth aspect, a conference endpoint is provided,including a signal transceiver configured to obtain one channel ofencoded video signal into which a video image signal of a firstspecified user and a video data signal of a conference material aresynthesized; a signal decoder configured to decode the channel ofencoded video signal obtained by the signal transceiver; and a processorconfigured to virtually segment a display screen at a local conferencesite into a preset quantity of display subscreens; display a videoimage, which is obtained by the signal decoder through decoding, of theconference material on at least one display subscreen obtained throughsegmentation; and display a video image, which is obtained by the signaldecoder through decoding, of the first specified user on another atleast one display subscreen obtained through segmentation.

With reference to the ninth aspect, in a first possible implementationmanner, the channel of encoded video signal obtained by the signaltransceiver further includes a video image signal of at least one secondspecified user; and the processor is further configured to display avideo image, which is obtained by the signal decoder through decoding,of the at least one second specified user on another at least onedisplay subscreen obtained by the processor through segmentation.

With reference to the ninth aspect, in a second possible implementationmanner, the processor is configured to display the video image, which isobtained by the signal decoder through decoding, of the conferencematerial on at least two adjacent display subscreens obtained throughsegmentation.

With reference to the first possible implementation manner of the ninthaspect, in a third possible implementation manner, the processor isconfigured to display a video image, which is obtained by the signaldecoder through decoding, of each specified user on any displaysubscreen obtained through segmentation; or display video images, whichare obtained by the signal decoder through decoding, of at least twospecified users on any display subscreen obtained through segmentation.

With reference to the first possible implementation manner of the ninthaspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner, the processor isconfigured to display the video image, which is obtained by the signaldecoder through decoding, of the first specified user on any displaysubscreen obtained through segmentation; and display the video image,which is obtained by the signal decoder through decoding, of theconference material on a display subscreen that is adjacent to theselected display subscreen and is close to a central area of the displayscreen.

With reference to the first possible implementation manner of the ninthaspect, in a fifth possible implementation manner, the processor isfurther configured to, when a role of a second specified user is changedto a role of the first specified user, determine at least one displaysubscreen adjacent to a display subscreen displaying a video image ofthe second specified user whose role is changed; and display, in aninterchanging manner, a video image in the at least one displaysubscreen, which originally displays the video image of the conferencematerial, and a video image in the determined at least one displaysubscreen.

With reference to the first possible implementation manner of the ninthaspect, in a sixth possible implementation manner, the processor isfurther configured to, when a second specified user speaks, determine atleast one display subscreen that is adjacent to the display subscreendisplaying the video image of the conference material and is differentfrom the display subscreen displaying the video image of the firstspecified user; and display, in an interchanging manner, a video imagein a display subscreen, which originally displays a video image of thesecond specified user who speaks, and a video image in the determined atleast one display subscreen.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, three methods fordisplaying a conference material in a remote conference are provided.

One method includes first determining a position coordinate of a firstspecified user at a conference site, then collecting a video imagesignal of the conference site, and segmenting, according to the positioncoordinate, the video image signal of the conference site to acquire avideo image signal of the first specified user; and then acquiring avideo data signal of a displayed conference material, synthesizing thevideo image signal of the first specified user and the video data signalof the conference material into one channel of encoded video signal, andsending the channel of encoded video signal to another conference sitefor signal decoding and for displaying on a same display screen at theanother conference site. In this solution, the video image signal of thefirst specified user and the video data signal of the conferencematerial that are acquired are synthesized into one channel of videosignal and encoded, and then the encoded video signal is sent to theanother conference site and is displayed on the same display screen atthe another conference site, thereby achieving an effect of displaying avideo image of the first specified user and a video image of theconference material on a same display screen at a same conference site.Because only one display screen is required to display the conferencematerial and the first specified user at the same time, problems that avideoconferencing system cannot be moved easily and has relatively highcosts and relatively poor flexibility are effectively avoided. Further,when paying attention to the conference material and the first specifieduser at the same time, a conference participant does not need to shift aline of sight between a display screen that displays the video image ofthe conference material and a display screen that displays the videoimage of the first specified user; therefore, efficiency of a videoconference is improved, and user experience is also improved.

Another method includes, after a video image signal of a first specifieduser and a video data signal of a conference material that are sent fromanother conference site are received, synthesizing, into one channel ofencoded video signal, the video image signal of the first specified userand the video data signal of the conference material that are received,decoding the synthesized channel of encoded video signal, and displayingthe decoded video signal on a same display screen at a local conferencesite. In this solution, at a conference site, the video image signal ofthe first specified user and the video data signal of the conferencematerial that are received are synthesized into one channel of videosignal and encoded, and the encoded video signal is displayed on thesame display screen at the local conference site, thereby achieving aneffect of displaying a video image of the first specified user and avideo image of the conference material on a same display screen at asame conference site. Because only one display screen is required todisplay the conference material and the first specified user at the sametime, that is, the conference material and the first specified user donot need to be displayed separately on two display screens, problemsthat a videoconferencing system cannot be moved easily and hasrelatively high costs and relatively poor flexibility due to manyscreens are effectively avoided. Further, when paying attention to theconference material and the first specified user at the same time, aconference participant does not need to shift a line of sight between adisplay screen that displays the video image of the conference materialand a display screen that displays the video image of the firstspecified user; therefore, efficiency of a video conference is improved,and user experience is also improved.

Still another method includes obtaining one channel of encoded videosignal into which a video image signal of a first specified user and avideo data signal of a conference material are synthesized; decoding theobtained synthesized channel of encoded video signal, and virtuallysegmenting a display screen at a local conference site into a presetquantity of display subscreens; and displaying a video image, which isobtained through decoding, of the conference material on at least onedisplay subscreen obtained through segmentation, and displaying a videoimage, which is obtained through decoding, of the first specified useron another at least one display subscreen obtained through segmentation.In this solution, at a conference site, after the channel of encodedvideo signal into which the video image signal of the first specifieduser and the video data signal of the conference material aresynthesized is obtained, a display screen at the local conference siteis virtually segmented into a preset quantity of display subscreens, thevideo image, which is obtained through decoding, of the conferencematerial is displayed on at least one display subscreen obtained throughsegmentation, and the video image, which is obtained through decoding,of the first specified user is displayed on another at least one displaysubscreen obtained through segmentation, thereby achieving an effect ofdisplaying a video image of the first specified user and a video imageof the conference material on a same display screen at a same conferencesite. Because the conference material and the first specified user aredisplayed on different display subscreens of only one display screen,that is, the conference material and the first specified user do notneed to be displayed separately on two display screens, problems that avideoconferencing system cannot be moved easily and has relatively highcosts and relatively poor flexibility due to many screens areeffectively avoided. Further, when paying attention to the conferencematerial and the first specified user at the same time, a conferenceparticipant does not need to shift a line of sight between a displayscreen that displays the video image of the conference material and adisplay screen that displays the video image of the first specifieduser; therefore, efficiency of a video conference is improved, and userexperience is also improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a first schematic structural diagram of a videoconferencingsystem in the prior art;

FIG. 1B is a second schematic structural diagram of a videoconferencingsystem in the prior art;

FIG. 1C is a first schematic diagram of display of a conference materialin a video conference in the prior art;

FIG. 1D is a second schematic diagram of display of a conferencematerial in a video conference in the prior art;

FIG. 2A is a first detailed flowchart of displaying a conferencematerial in a video conference according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2B is a second detailed flowchart of displaying a conferencematerial in a video conference according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2C is a third detailed flowchart of displaying a conferencematerial in a video conference according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3A is a third schematic diagram of display of a conference materialin a video conference according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3B is a fourth schematic diagram of display of a conferencematerial in a video conference according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3C is a fifth schematic diagram of display of a conference materialin a video conference according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 4A is a sixth schematic diagram of display of a conference materialin a video conference according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 4B is a seventh schematic diagram of display of a conferencematerial in a video conference according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 4C is an eighth schematic diagram of display of a conferencematerial in a video conference according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 5A is a ninth schematic diagram of display of a conference materialin a video conference according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 5B is a tenth schematic diagram of display of a conference materialin a video conference according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 6A is an eleventh schematic diagram of display of a conferencematerial in a video conference according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 6B is a twelfth schematic diagram of display of a conferencematerial in a video conference according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 6C is a thirteenth schematic diagram of display of a conferencematerial in a video conference according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 7 is a fourth detailed flowchart of displaying a conferencematerial in a video conference according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 8A is a first schematic diagram of a first display apparatus fordisplaying a conference material in a video conference according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8B is a first schematic diagram of a conference endpoint fordisplaying a conference material in a video conference according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9A is a second schematic diagram of a display apparatus fordisplaying a conference material in a video conference according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9B is a second schematic diagram of a conference endpoint fordisplaying a conference material in a video conference according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10A is a third schematic diagram of a display apparatus fordisplaying a conference material in a video conference according to anembodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 10B is a third schematic diagram of a conference endpoint fordisplaying a conference material in a video conference according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

To resolve problems in the prior art that a videoconferencing systemcannot be moved easily and has relatively poor flexibility andrelatively high maintenance costs, and that conference efficiency isrelatively low, embodiments of the present disclosure provide threemethods for displaying a conference material in a remote conference, allof which can effectively avoid the problems that a videoconferencingsystem cannot be moved easily and has relatively high costs andrelatively poor flexibility due to many screens. Further, when payingattention to a conference material and a first specified user at thesame time, a conference participant does not need to shift a line ofsight between a display screen that displays a video image of theconference material and a display screen that displays a video image ofthe first specified user; therefore, efficiency of a video conference isimproved, and user experience is also improved.

The following describes in detail exemplary implementation manners ofthe present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 2A, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, afirst detailed procedure for displaying a conference material in a videoconference is as follows.

Embodiment 1

Step 20: Determine a position coordinate of a first specified user at aconference site.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, there are multiple mannersfor determining the position coordinate of the first specified user atthe conference site. Preferably, the position coordinate of the firstspecified user at the conference site is determined by means of a soundlocalization technology; for example, sound signals of the conferencesite are acquired using sound signal collectors separately disposed atdifferent positions of the conference site, and according to a collectedsound signal having greatest strength, a spatial position of a signalsource sending the sound signal is calculated. Alternatively, theposition coordinate of the first specified user at the conference siteis determined based on a locator. Positioning performed using a locatoris a relatively mature technology in the prior art, and details are notdescribed herein again.

Step 21: Collect a video image signal of the conference site, segmentthe video image signal of the conference site according to the positioncoordinate to acquire a video image signal of the first specified user,and acquire a video data signal of a displayed conference material.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, there are multiple mannersfor collecting the video image signal of the conference site andsegmenting, according to the position coordinate, the video image signalof the conference site to acquire the video image signal of the firstspecified user. Preferably, first, matching is performed between theposition coordinate and spatial position coordinates of the video imagesignal to obtain a position of the video image signal of the firstspecified user in the video image signal of the conference site, and avideo image of the first specified user is determined according to avideo image signal at the position by means of a facial recognitiontechnology, and then the video image signal of the conference site issegmented at a preset distance from the video image of the firstspecified user to acquire the video image signal of the first specifieduser.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, when the video imagesignal of the first specified user is sent to a display screen atanother conference site for displaying, video image signals of multiplesecond specified users at the same conference site as the firstspecified user may also be sent to the display screen at the anotherconference site for displaying. For example, position coordinates of themultiple second specified users at the conference site are firstdetermined; then the video image signal of the conference site issegmented separately according to the determined position coordinates ofthe multiple second specified users to acquire a video image signal ofeach second specified user; and finally, the video image signals of thefirst specified user and the second specified users are synthesized withthe video data signal of the conference material into one channel ofencoded video signal. A manner used to determine the positioncoordinates of the second specified users at the conference site is thesame as that used to determine the position coordinate of the firstspecified user at the conference site.

Step 22: Synthesize the video image signal of the first specified userand the video data signal of the conference material into one channel ofencoded video signal, and send the channel of encoded video signal toanother conference site for signal decoding and for displaying on a samedisplay screen at the another conference site.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, a video data signal of aconference material and a video image signal of a first specified userare synthesized into one channel of video signal and encoded, and theencoded video signal is sent to a same display screen at anotherconference site for presentation, thereby achieving an objective ofpresenting the conference material and the first specified user (forexample, a keynote speaker) on a same screen. In this case, problemsthat a videoconferencing system cannot be moved easily and hasrelatively poor flexibility and relatively high maintenance costs due topresentation of the conference material and the first specified user ondifferent display screens at a same conference site are avoided.Further, it is avoided that another conference participant who needs topay attention to the conference material and the first specified user atthe same time shifts a line of sight between a display screen presentingthe conference material and a display screen presenting the firstspecified user in a video conference; therefore, conference efficiencyand user experience are improved.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, a detailed procedure fordisplaying a conference material in a video conference is furtherprovided. For details, refer to FIG. 2B.

Embodiment 2

Step 200: Receive a video image signal of a first specified user and avideo data signal of a conference material that are sent from anotherconference site.

Step 210: Synthesize, into one channel of encoded video signal, thevideo image signal of the first specified user and the video data signalof the conference material that are received.

Step 220: Decode the synthesized encoded video signal, and display thedecoded signal on a same display screen at a local conference site.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, when the video imagesignal, which is sent from the another conference site, of the firstspecified user is received, video image signals, which are sent from theanother conference site, of multiple second specified users at the sameconference site as the first specified user may also be received. Thereare multiple manners for processing the received video image signals ofthe multiple second specified users. Preferably, the received videoimage signal of the first specified user and the received video imagesignals of the second specified users are synthesized with the videodata signal of the conference material into one channel of encoded videosignal.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, a video data signal of aconference material and a video image signal of a first specified userthat are received are synthesized into one channel of video signal andencoded, and the encoded video signal is presented on a same displayscreen at a local conference site, thereby achieving an objective ofpresenting the conference material and the first specified user (forexample, a keynote speaker) on a same screen. In this case, problemsthat a videoconferencing system cannot be moved easily and hasrelatively poor flexibility and relatively high maintenance costs due topresentation of the conference material and the first specified user ondifferent display screens at a same conference site are avoided.Further, it is avoided that another conference participant who needs topay attention to the conference material and the first specified user atthe same time shifts a line of sight between a display screen presentingthe conference material and a display screen presenting the firstspecified user in a video conference; therefore, conference efficiencyand user experience are improved.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, a detailed procedure fordisplaying a conference material in a video conference is furtherprovided. For details, refer to FIG. 2C.

Embodiment 3

Step 2000: Obtain one channel of encoded video signal into which a videoimage signal of a first specified user and a video data signal of aconference material are synthesized.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, the obtained synthesizedchannel of encoded video signal includes the video image signal of thefirst specified user, and may also include a video image signal of atleast one second specified user.

Step 2100: Decode the obtained channel of encoded video signal, andvirtually segment a display screen at a local conference site into apreset quantity of display subscreens.

Step 2200: Display a video image, which is obtained through decoding, ofthe conference material on at least one display subscreen obtainedthrough segmentation, and display a video image, which is obtainedthrough decoding, of the first specified user on another at least onedisplay subscreen obtained through segmentation.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, the obtained synthesizedchannel of encoded video signal includes the video image signal of thefirst specified user, and may also include the video image signal of theat least one second specified user. When a video image, which isobtained through decoding, of the at least one second specified user isdisplayed, the video image may be displayed on another at least onedisplay subscreen that is obtained through segmentation and is differentfrom the display subscreen displaying the conference material; that is,a display subscreen displaying a video image of a second specified useris different from the display subscreen displaying the video image ofthe conference material, and may be the same as or different from thedisplay subscreen displaying the video image of the first specifieduser.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, there are multiple mannersfor displaying the video image, which is obtained through decoding, ofthe conference material on the at least one display subscreen obtainedthrough segmentation in the display screen. Preferably, the video image,which is obtained through decoding, of the conference material isdisplayed on at least two adjacent display subscreens obtained throughsegmentation in the display screen.

For example, the first specified user is a keynote speaker A, and aconference site at which A is located is a first conference site B1. Avideo stream, which is obtained after a video image signal of A and thevideo data signal of the conference material are synthesized into onechannel of video signal and encoded, is sent from B1 to a secondconference site B2; and at B2, after the video stream is received, adisplay screen C at the local conference site is first virtuallysegmented into 6 display subscreens, the 6 display subscreens arenumbered from left to right, and two subscreens whose numbers are 2 and3 are selected for presentation after the video data signal of theconference material is decoded. For details, refer to FIG. 3A. In anactual application, two subscreens whose numbers are 1 and 2 may also beselected for presentation, or two subscreens whose numbers are 3 and 4may be selected for presentation, and details are not described hereinagain.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, there are multiple mannersfor displaying the video image, which is obtained through decoding, ofthe specified user on the other at least one display subscreen obtainedthrough segmentation in the display screen. For example, a video image,which is obtained through decoding, of each specified user is displayedon a display subscreen obtained through segmentation in the displayscreen; or video images, which are obtained through decoding, of atleast two specified users are displayed on a display subscreen obtainedthrough segmentation in the display screen.

For example, the display screen at the local conference site isvirtually segmented into 6 display subscreens, and the 6 displaysubscreens are numbered from left to right. When the video image of thefirst specified user (a first specified user 1), video images of threesecond specified users (a second specified user 1, a second specifieduser 2, and a second specified user 3), and the video image of theconference material are displayed on display subscreens, the videoimages of the first specified user 1, the second specified user 1, thesecond specified user 2, the second specified user 3, and the conferencematerial may be respectively displayed on a display subscreen 1, adisplay subscreen 2, a display subscreen 3, a display subscreen 4, and adisplay subscreen 5; or the video image of the first specified user 1may be displayed on a display subscreen 1, the video images of thesecond specified user 1, the second specified user 2, and the secondspecified user 3 are displayed on a display subscreen 2, and the videoimage of the conference material is displayed on a display subscreen 3.

Further, to improve quality of presenting the conference material on thedisplay screen, and to improve conference efficiency and userexperience, in this embodiment of the present disclosure, the videoimage, which is obtained through decoding, of the first specified useris displayed on a display subscreen that is selected from displaysubscreens obtained through segmentation, and the video image, which isobtained through decoding, of the conference material is displayed on adisplay subscreen that is adjacent to the selected display subscreen andthat is close to a central area of the display screen, and thedisplaying of the video images may be implemented in the followingmanner: virtually segmenting a display screen at the local conferencesite into a preset quantity of display subscreens, numbering the displaysubscreens according to preset order, determining a number of a displaysubscreen presenting the first specified user, selecting an adjacentdisplay subscreen according to the preset order used to number thedisplay subscreens, and decoding the video data signal of the conferencematerial and then presenting the decoded video data signal on theadjacent display subscreen. In this way, the video image of theconference material is adjacent to the video image of the firstspecified user and is presented on the display subscreen close to thecentral area of the display screen.

For example, the first specified user is a keynote speaker A, and aconference site at which A is located is a first conference site B1. Avideo stream, which is obtained after a video image signal of A and thevideo data signal of the conference material are synthesized into onechannel of video signal and encoded, is sent from B1 to a secondconference site B2; and at B2, after the video stream is received, adisplay screen C at the local conference site is first virtuallysegmented into 10 display subscreens, the 10 display subscreens arenumbered from left to right, and then it is determined that a number ofa display subscreen presenting the first specified user is 4. Thedisplay subscreens are numbered from left to right, and the displaysubscreen 4 is located on the left of the display screen; therefore,after decoding is performed on the video data signal of the conferencematerial, adjacent display subscreens (a display subscreen 5 and adisplay subscreen 6) to the right of the display subscreen 4 areselected to present the decoded video data signal, as shown in FIG. 3B.If a number of a display subscreen presenting the first specified useris 7, the display subscreens are numbered from left to right, and thedisplay subscreen 7 is on the right of the display screen; therefore,after decoding is performed on the video data signal of the conferencematerial, adjacent display subscreens (a display subscreen 5 and adisplay subscreen 6) to the left of the display subscreen 7 are selectedto present the decoded video data signal, as shown in FIG. 3C. In thisway, the display subscreen presenting the conference material isadjacent to the display subscreen presenting the first specified userand is relatively close to the central area of the display screen.

In an actual application, a display subscreen presenting the firstspecified user may change, for example, a display subscreen presenting akeynote speaker is changed from the display subscreen 2 in FIG. 3A tothe display subscreen 4 in FIG. 3A. To ensure that a display subscreenpresenting the conference material is adjacent to a display subscreenpresenting the first specified user and is close to a central area ofthe display screen so as to improve quality of presenting the conferencematerial, in this embodiment of the present disclosure, at least onedisplay subscreen adjacent to a changed display subscreen displaying thevideo image of the first specified user is first determined, and then avideo image in the at least one display subscreen, which originallydisplays the video image of the conference material, and a video imagein the determined at least one display subscreen are displayed in aninterchanging manner, and the displaying of the video images may beimplemented in the following manner: virtually segmenting a displayscreen into a preset quantity of display subscreens, numbering thedisplay subscreens according to preset order, determining, after aposition of the first specified user is changed, a number of a displaysubscreen on which the first specified user is located, selecting anadjacent display subscreen according to the preset order used to numberthe display subscreens, decoding the video data signal of the conferencematerial and then displaying the decoded video data signal on theadjacent display subscreen, and presenting a video image of thedetermined display subscreen on the display subscreen that originallydisplays the video data signal of the conference material.

For example, the first specified user is a keynote speaker A, and aconference site at which A is located is a first conference site B1. Avideo stream, which is obtained after a video image signal of A and thevideo data signal of the conference material are synthesized into onechannel of video signal and encoded, is sent from B1 to a secondconference site B2; and at B2, after the video stream is received, adisplay screen at the local conference site is first virtually segmentedinto 10 display subscreens, and the 10 display subscreens are numberedfrom left to right, where a number of a display subscreen presenting thefirst specified user is 7, display subscreens presenting a conferenceparticipant 1, a conference participant 2, and a conference participant3 are respectively a display subscreen 2, a display subscreen 3, and adisplay subscreen 4, and numbers of display subscreens presenting theconference material are 5 and 6, as shown in FIG. 4A. If the displaysubscreen displaying A is changed from the display subscreen 7 to thedisplay subscreen 2, the display subscreens presenting the conferencematerial are changed from the display subscreen 5 and the displaysubscreen 6 to the display subscreen 3 and the display subscreen 4, theconference participant 2 and the conference participant 3 arerespectively presented on the display subscreen 5 and the displaysubscreen 6, and the conference participant 1 is presented on thedisplay subscreen 7. For details, refer to FIG. 4B.

In an actual application, roles of the first specified user and a secondspecified user may change, for example, a keynote speaker (the firstspecified user) becomes a participant, and a second specified userbecomes a keynote speaker. To ensure that a display subscreen presentingthe conference material is adjacent to a display subscreen presentingthe first specified user and is located on a side from which the displaysubscreen presenting the first specified user is close to a central areaof the display screen so as to improve quality of presenting theconference material, in this embodiment of the present disclosure, whena role of a second specified user is changed to a role of the firstspecified user, at least one display subscreen adjacent to a displaysubscreen displaying a video image of the second specified user whoserole is changed is determined, and a video image in the at least onedisplay subscreen, which originally displays the video image of theconference material, and a video image in the determined at least onedisplay subscreen are displayed in an interchanging manner.

For example, the first specified user (a keynote speaker) is A, aconference site at which A is located is a first conference site B1, anda second specified user (a conference participant) is C. A video stream,which is obtained after a video image signal of A and the video datasignal of the conference material are synthesized into one channel ofvideo signal and encoded, is sent from B1 to a second conference siteB2; and at B2, after the video stream is received, a display screen atthe local conference site is first virtually segmented into 10 displaysubscreens, and the 10 display subscreens are numbered from left toright, where a number of a display subscreen presenting A is 7, displaysubscreens presenting a conference participant 1, a conferenceparticipant 2, and a conference participant 3 are respectively a displaysubscreen 2, a display subscreen 3, and a display subscreen 4, andnumbers of display subscreens presenting the conference material are 5and 6, as shown in FIG. 4A. If the keynote speaker is changed from A toC at present, and a display subscreen displaying C is the displaysubscreen 2, the display subscreens presenting the conference materialare changed from the display subscreen 5 and the display subscreen 6 tothe display subscreen 3 and the display subscreen 4, and the conferenceparticipant 2 and the conference participant 3 are respectivelypresented on the display subscreen 5 and the display subscreen 6. Fordetails, refer to FIG. 4C.

During an actual process of a video conference, there may be adiscussion stage at which another conference participant speaks. Toimprove user experience, in this embodiment of the present disclosure,when it is determined that a second specified user speaks, a displaysubscreen that is adjacent to the display subscreen displaying the videoimage of the conference material and that is different from the displaysubscreen displaying the video image of the first specified user isdetermined, and a video image in a display subscreen, which originallydisplays a video image of the second specified user who speaks, and avideo image in the determined display subscreen that is adjacent to thedisplay subscreen displaying the video image of the conference materialare displayed in an interchanging manner, and the displaying of thevideo images may be implemented in the following manner: virtuallysegmenting a display screen into a preset quantity of displaysubscreens, numbering the display subscreens according to preset order,determining a number of a display subscreen displaying the video imagesignal of the conference material and a number of a display subscreendisplaying the video image signal of the first specified user, andpresenting the video image signal of the second specified user on adisplay subscreen that is on the other side of the display subscreenpresenting the video data signal of the conference material.

For example, the first specified user is a keynote speaker A, and aconference site at which A is located is a first conference site B1. Avideo stream, which is obtained after a video image signal of A and thevideo data signal of the conference material are synthesized into onechannel of video signal and encoded, is sent from B1 to a secondconference site B2; and at B2, after the video stream is received, adisplay screen at the local conference site is first virtually segmentedinto 10 display subscreens, and the 10 display subscreens are numberedfrom left to right, where a number of a display subscreen presenting thefirst specified user is 7, display subscreens presenting a conferenceparticipant 1 and a conference participant 2 are respectively a displaysubscreen 4 and a display subscreen 8, and numbers of display subscreenspresenting the conference material are 5 and 6, as shown in FIG. 5A.Currently, if the conference participant 2 is a speaker, the displaysubscreen presenting the conference participant 2 is changed from thedisplay subscreen 8 to the display subscreen 4, and the conferenceparticipant 1 is presented on the display subscreen 8. For details,refer to FIG. 5B.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, there are multiple mannersfor presenting the first specified user on the screen. Preferably, thefirst specified user may be presented in highlighted form, or may bepresented in animation form, or may be presented in a specified color.

In an actual application, the conference material may be displayed in aspecified time period during a process of a video conference, and theconference material is not displayed in other time periods. To ensurequality of a video conference and improve conference efficiency, in thisembodiment of the present disclosure, after the conference material isturned off, all video images on one side of the display subscreenspresenting the conference material are presented on display subscreenswhose numbers differ from initial display subscreen numbers by 2.

For example, the display screen is virtually divided into 6 displaysubscreens, the conference material is displayed on display subscreens 3and 4, a keynote speaker is displayed on a display subscreen 2, and aconference participant 2, a conference participant 3, and a conferenceparticipant 4 are respectively displayed on a display subscreen 1, adisplay subscreen 5, and a display subscreen 6, as shown in FIG. 6A.After the conference material is turned off, the display subscreensdisplaying the conference participant 2 and the keynote speaker arerespectively changed from the display subscreen 1 and the displaysubscreen 2 to the display subscreen 3 and the display subscreen 4, andthe display subscreens presenting the conference participant 3 and theconference participant 4 are not changed, as shown in FIG. 6B; or thedisplay subscreens displaying the conference participant 3 and theconference participant 4 are respectively changed from the displaysubscreen 5 and the display subscreen 6 to the display subscreen 3 andthe display subscreen 4, and the display subscreens displaying theconference participant 1 and the keynote speaker are not changed, asshown in FIG. 6C.

In the solution provided in Embodiment 3, at a conference site, afterone channel of encoded video signal into which a video image signal of afirst specified user and a video data signal of a conference materialare synthesized is obtained, a display screen at the local conferencesite is virtually segmented into a preset quantity of displaysubscreens, a video image, which is obtained through decoding, of theconference material is displayed on at least one display subscreenobtained through segmentation, and a video image, which is obtainedthrough decoding, of the first specified user is displayed on another atleast one display subscreen obtained through segmentation, therebyachieving an effect of displaying the video image of the first specifieduser and the video image of the conference material on a same displayscreen at a same conference site. Because the conference material andthe first specified user are displayed on different display subscreensof only one display screen, that is, the conference material and thefirst specified user do not need to be displayed separately on twodisplay screens, problems that a videoconferencing system cannot bemoved easily and has relatively high costs and relatively poorflexibility due to many screens are effectively avoided. Further, whenpaying attention to the conference material and the first specified userat the same time, a conference participant does not need to shift a lineof sight between a display screen that displays the video image of theconference material and a display screen that displays the video imageof the first specified user; therefore, efficiency of a video conferenceis improved, and user experience is also improved.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, Embodiment 1 andEmbodiment 3 may be combined for operation, that is, a conference siteon a sending end sends a synthesized signal in the manner of Embodiment1, and a conference site on a receiving end decodes the synthesizedsignal and segments a display screen into subscreens for display in themanner of Embodiment 3; or Embodiment 2 and Embodiment 3 may be combinedfor operation, that is, a conference site on a receiving end receivessignals and synthesizes the signals into one channel of signal and thendecodes the synthesized channel of signal in the manner of Embodiment 2,and segments a display screen into subscreens for display in the mannerof Embodiment 3. Because any one of Embodiment 1, Embodiment 2, andEmbodiment 3 can resolve problems in the prior art that avideoconferencing system cannot be moved easily and has relatively poorflexibility and relatively high maintenance costs, and that conferenceefficiency is relatively low, an embodiment in which Embodiment 1 andEmbodiment 3 are combined for operation or Embodiment 2 and Embodiment 3are combined for operation can also resolve the problems in the priorart that a videoconferencing system cannot be moved easily and hasrelatively poor flexibility and relatively high maintenance costs, andthat conference efficiency is relatively low. A specific analysis abouthow each embodiment can achieve the foregoing effect is described above,and details are not described herein again.

To facilitate a better understanding of the embodiments of the presentdisclosure, the following provides a specific application scenario, andfurther describes in detail a process of displaying a conferencematerial in a remote conference. For details, refer to FIG. 7 (where Ais a keynote speaker, a conference site at which A is located is a firstconference site, and another conference site is a second conferencesite):

Step 700: Determine a position coordinate of A at a first conferencesite by means of a sound localization technology.

Step 710: Collect a video image signal of the first conference site, andsegment the video image signal of the first conference site according tothe position coordinate to acquire a video image signal of A.

Step 720: Acquire a video data signal of a conference material, and sendthe video image signal of A and the video data signal of the conferencematerial as one channel of encoded video signal to a second conferencesite.

Step 730: At the second conference site, virtually segment a samedisplay screen at the local conference site into 8 display subscreens,and number the display subscreens from left to right.

Step 740: At the second conference site, determine that a number of adisplay subscreen presenting A is 6, and select a display subscreen 4and a display subscreen 5 that are adjacent to the display subscreen 6.

Step 750: Present a video image of the conference material on thedisplay subscreen 4 and the display subscreen 5.

Step 760: After it is determined that the display subscreen presenting Ais changed from the display subscreen 6 to a display subscreen 1,present the conference material on a display subscreen 2 and a displaysubscreen 3.

In this step, after the display subscreen presenting A is changed fromthe display subscreen 6 to the display subscreen 1, and the conferencematerial is presented on the display subscreen 2 and the displaysubscreen 3, conference participants 1, 2, and 3 on the displaysubscreen 1, the display subscreen 2, and the display subscreen 3 arerespectively displayed on the display subscreen 4, the display subscreen5, and the display subscreen 6.

Step 770: After it is determined that a conference participant 2 is aspeaker, present a video image of the conference participant 2 on thedisplay subscreen 4, and present a video image of a conferenceparticipant 1 on the display subscreen 5.

Referring to FIG. 8A, an embodiment of the present disclosure furtherprovides an apparatus for displaying a conference material in a videoconference. The display apparatus includes a determining unit 80configured to determine a position coordinate of a first specified userat a conference site; an image signal acquiring unit 81 configured tocollect a video image signal of the conference site, segment the videoimage signal of the conference site according to the position coordinatedetermined by the determining unit 80 to acquire a video image signal ofthe first specified user, and acquire a video data signal of a displayedconference material; and a communications unit 82 configured tosynthesize the video image signal of the first specified user and thevideo data signal of the conference material that are acquired by theimage signal acquiring unit 81 into one channel of encoded video signal,and send the channel of encoded video signal to another conference sitefor signal decoding and for displaying on a same display screen at theanother conference site.

Further, the determining unit 80 is further configured to determine aposition coordinate of at least one second specified user, who is at thesame conference site as the first specified user, at the conferencesite; in this case, the image signal acquiring unit 81 is furtherconfigured to segment the video image signal of the conference siteaccording to the position coordinate, which is determined by thedetermining unit 80, of the at least one second specified user toacquire a video image signal of each second specified user.

Preferably, the communications unit 82 is configured to synthesize thevideo image signals of the first specified user and the at least onesecond specified user and the video data signal of the conferencematerial that are separately acquired by the image signal acquiring unit81 into one channel of encoded video signal, and send the channel ofencoded video signal to another conference site for signal decoding andfor displaying on a same display screen at the another conference site.

Preferably, the determining unit 80 is configured to determine theposition coordinate of the specified user at the conference site bymeans of a sound localization technology; or determine, based on alocator, the position coordinate of the specified user at the conferencesite.

Preferably, the image signal acquiring unit 81 is configured to matchthe position coordinate with spatial position coordinates of the videoimage signal of the conference site to obtain a position of the videoimage signal of the specified user in the video image signal of theconference site; determine a video image of the specified user accordingto a video image signal at the position by means of a facial recognitiontechnology; and segment the video image signal of the conference site ata preset distance from the image of the specified user to acquire thevideo image signal of the specified user.

Referring to FIG. 8B, an embodiment of the present disclosure furtherprovides a conference endpoint. The conference endpoint includes animage signal processor 800 configured to determine a position coordinateof a first specified user at a conference site, collect a video imagesignal of the conference site, segment the video image signal of theconference site according to the position coordinate to acquire a videoimage signal of the first specified user, and acquire a video datasignal of a displayed conference material; an image signal multiplexer810 configured to synthesize the video image signal of the firstspecified user and the video data signal of the conference material thatare acquired by the image signal processor 800 into one channel ofencoded video signal; and a signal transceiver 820 configured to sendthe channel of encoded video signal synthesized by the image signalmultiplexer 810 to another conference site for signal decoding and fordisplaying on a same display screen at the another conference site.

Preferably, the image signal processor 800 is further configured todetermine a position coordinate of at least one second specified user,who is at the same conference site as the first specified user, at theconference site; and segment the video image signal of the conferencesite according to the determined the position coordinate of the at leastone second specified user to acquire a video image signal of each secondspecified user; and the image signal multiplexer 810 is configured tosynthesize the video image signals of the first specified user and theat least one second specified user and the video data signal of theconference material that are separately acquired by the image signalprocessor 800 into one channel of encoded video signal.

Preferably, the image signal processor 800 is configured to determinethe position coordinate of the specified user at the conference site bymeans of a sound localization technology; or determine, based on alocator, the position coordinate of the specified user at the conferencesite.

Preferably, the image signal processor 800 is configured to match theposition coordinate with spatial position coordinates of the video imagesignal of the conference site to obtain a position of the video imagesignal of the specified user in the video image signal of the conferencesite; determine a video image of the specified user according to a videoimage signal at the position by means of a facial recognitiontechnology; and segment the video image signal of the conference site ata preset distance from the image of the specified user to acquire thevideo image signal of the specified user.

Referring to FIG. 9A, an embodiment of the present disclosure furtherprovides an apparatus for displaying a conference material in a videoconference. The display apparatus includes a communications unit 90configured to receive a video image signal of a first specified user anda video data signal of a conference material that are sent from anotherconference site, and synthesize, into one channel of encoded videosignal, the video image signal of the first specified user and the videodata signal of the conference material that are received; and apresentation unit 91 configured to decode the encoded video signalsynthesized by the communications unit 90, and display the decodedsignal on a same display screen at a local conference site.

Further, the communications unit 90 is further configured to receive avideo image signal, which is sent from the another conference site, ofat least one second specified user at the same conference site as thefirst specified user, and synthesize the received video image signal ofthe at least one second specified user into the synthesized channel ofencoded video signal.

Referring to FIG. 9B, an embodiment of the present disclosure furtherprovides a conference endpoint. The conference endpoint includes asignal transceiver 900 configured to receive a video image signal of afirst specified user and a video data signal of a conference materialthat are sent from another conference site; an image signal multiplexer910 configured to synthesize, into one channel of encoded video signal,the video image signal of the first specified user and the video datasignal of the conference material that are received by the signaltransceiver 900; and a display 920 configured to decode the encodedvideo signal synthesized by the image signal multiplexer 910, anddisplay the decoded signal on a same display screen at a localconference site.

Further, the signal transceiver 900 is further configured to receive avideo image signal, which is sent from the other conference site, of atleast one second specified user at the same conference site as the firstspecified user.

When the signal transceiver 900 further receives the video image signalof the at least one second specified user, the image signal multiplexer910 is configured to synthesize, into one channel of encoded videosignal, the video image signals of the first specified user and the atleast one second specified user and the video data signal of theconference material that are received by the signal transceiver 900.

Referring to FIG. 10A, an embodiment of the present disclosure furtherprovides an apparatus for displaying a conference material in a videoconference. The display apparatus includes a signal decoding unit 10configured to obtain one channel of encoded video signal into which avideo image signal of a first specified user and a video data signal ofa conference material are synthesized, and decode the obtained channelof encoded video signal; a screen segmentation unit 11 configured tovirtually segment a display screen at a local conference site into apreset quantity of display subscreens; and a presentation unit 12configured to display a video image, which is obtained by the signaldecoding unit 10 through decoding, of the conference material on atleast one display subscreen obtained by the screen segmentation unit 11through segmentation, and display a video image, which is obtained bythe signal decoding unit 10 through decoding, of the first specifieduser on another at least one display subscreen obtained by the screensegmentation unit 11 through segmentation.

Further, the channel of encoded video signal obtained by the signaldecoding unit 10 further includes a video image signal of at least onesecond specified user; in this case, the presentation unit 12 is furtherconfigured to display a video image, which is obtained by the signaldecoding unit 10 through decoding, of the at least one second specifieduser on another at least one display subscreen obtained by the screensegmentation unit 11 through segmentation.

Preferably, the presentation unit 12 is configured to display the videoimage, which is obtained by the signal decoding unit 10 throughdecoding, of the conference material on at least two adjacent displaysubscreens obtained by the screen segmentation unit 11 throughsegmentation.

Preferably, the presentation unit 12 is configured to display a videoimage, which is obtained by the signal decoding unit 10 throughdecoding, of each specified user on any display subscreen obtained bythe screen segmentation unit 11 through segmentation; or display videoimages, which are obtained by the signal decoding unit 10 throughdecoding, of at least two specified users on any display subscreenobtained by the screen segmentation unit 11 through segmentation.

Preferably, the presentation unit 12 is configured to display the videoimage, which is obtained by the signal decoding unit 10 throughdecoding, of the first specified user on any display subscreen obtainedby the screen segmentation unit 11 through segmentation; and display thevideo image, which is obtained by the signal decoding unit 10 throughdecoding, of the conference material on a display subscreen that isadjacent to the selected display subscreen and is close to a centralarea of the display screen.

Further, the presentation unit 12 is further configured to, when a roleof a second specified user is changed to a role of the first specifieduser, determine at least one display subscreen adjacent to a displaysubscreen displaying a video image of the second specified user whoserole is changed; and display, in an interchanging manner, a video imagein the at least one display subscreen, which originally displays thevideo image of the conference material, and a video image in thedetermined at least one display subscreen.

Further, the presentation unit 12 is further configured to, when asecond specified user speaks, determine at least one display subscreenthat is adjacent to the display subscreen displaying the video image ofthe conference material and is different from the display subscreendisplaying the video image of the first specified user; and display, inan interchanging manner, a video image in a display subscreen, whichoriginally displays a video image of the second specified user whospeaks, and a video image in the determined at least one displaysubscreen.

Referring to FIG. 10B, an embodiment of the present disclosure furtherprovides a conference endpoint. The conference endpoint includes asignal transceiver 100 configured to obtain one channel of encoded videosignal into which a video image signal of a first specified user and avideo data signal of a conference material are synthesized; a signaldecoder 110 configured to decode the channel of encoded video signalobtained by the signal transceiver 100; and a processor 120 configuredto virtually segment a display screen at a local conference site into apreset quantity of display subscreens; display a video image, which isobtained by the signal decoder 110 through decoding, of the conferencematerial on at least one display subscreen obtained throughsegmentation; and display a video image, which is obtained by the signaldecoder 110 through decoding, of the first specified user on another atleast one display subscreen obtained through segmentation.

Further, the channel of encoded video signal obtained by the signaltransceiver 100 further includes a video image signal of at least onesecond specified user; in this case, the processor 120 is furtherconfigured to display a video image, which is obtained by the signaldecoder 110 through decoding, of the at least one second specified useron another at least one display subscreen obtained by the processor 120through segmentation.

Preferably, the processor 120 is configured to display the video image,which is obtained by the signal decoder 110 through decoding, of theconference material on at least two adjacent display subscreens obtainedthrough segmentation.

Preferably, the processor 120 is configured to display a video image,which is obtained by the signal decoder 110 through decoding, of eachspecified user on any display subscreen obtained through segmentation;or display video images, which are obtained by the signal decoder 110through decoding, of at least two specified users on any displaysubscreen obtained through segmentation.

Preferably, the processor 120 is configured to display the video image,which is obtained by the signal decoder 110 through decoding, of thefirst specified user on any display subscreen obtained throughsegmentation; and display the video image, which is obtained by thesignal decoder 110 through decoding, of the conference material on adisplay subscreen that is adjacent to the selected display subscreen andis close to a central area of the display screen.

Further, the processor 120 is further configured to, when a role of asecond specified user is changed to a role of the first specified user,determine at least one display subscreen adjacent to a display subscreendisplaying a video image of the second specified user whose role ischanged; and display, in an interchanging manner, a video image in theat least one display subscreen, which originally displays the videoimage of the conference material, and a video image in the determined atleast one display subscreen.

Further, the processor 120 is further configured to, when a secondspecified user speaks, determine at least one display subscreen that isadjacent to the display subscreen displaying the video image of theconference material and is different from the display subscreendisplaying the video image of the first specified user; and display, inan interchanging manner, a video image in a display subscreen, whichoriginally displays a video image of the second specified user whospeaks, and a video image in the determined at least one displaysubscreen.

In conclusion, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, threemethods for displaying a conference material in a remote conference areprovided.

One method includes first determining position coordinates of a firstspecified user at a conference site, then collecting a video imagesignal of the conference site, and segmenting, according to the positioncoordinates, the video image signal of the conference site to acquire avideo image signal of the first specified user; and then acquiring avideo data signal of a displayed conference material, synthesizing thevideo image signal of the first specified user and the video data signalof the conference material into one channel of encoded video signal, andsending the channel of encoded video signal to another conference sitefor signal decoding and for displaying on a same display screen at theanother conference site. In this solution, the video image signal of thefirst specified user and the video data signal of the conferencematerial that are acquired are synthesized into one channel of videosignal and encoded, and then the encoded video signal is sent to theanother conference site and is displayed on the same display screen atthe another conference site, thereby achieving an effect of displaying avideo image of the first specified user and a video image of theconference material on a same display screen at a same conference site.Because only one display screen is required to display the conferencematerial and the first specified user at the same time, problems that avideoconferencing system cannot be moved easily and has relatively highcosts and relatively poor flexibility are effectively avoided. Further,when paying attention to the conference material and the first specifieduser at the same time, a conference participant does not need to shift aline of sight between a display screen that displays the video image ofthe conference material and a display screen that displays the videoimage of the first specified user; therefore, efficiency of a videoconference is improved, and user experience is also improved. Anothermethod includes, after a video image signal of a first specified userand a video data signal of a conference material that are sent fromanother conference site are received, synthesizing, into one channel ofencoded video signal, the video image signal of the first specified userand the video data signal of the conference material that are received,decoding the synthesized channel of encoded video signal, and displayingthe decoded video signal on a same display screen at a local conferencesite. In this solution, at a conference site, the video image signal ofthe first specified user and the video data signal of the conferencematerial that are received are synthesized into one channel of videosignal and encoded, and the encoded video signal is displayed on thesame display screen at the local conference site, thereby achieving aneffect of displaying a video image of the first specified user and avideo image of the conference material on a same display screen at asame conference site. Because only one display screen is required todisplay the conference material and the first specified user at the sametime, that is, the conference material and the first specified user donot need to be displayed separately on two display screens, problemsthat a videoconferencing system cannot be moved easily and hasrelatively high costs and relatively poor flexibility due to manyscreens are effectively avoided. Further, when paying attention to theconference material and the first specified user at the same time, aconference participant does not need to shift a line of sight between adisplay screen that displays the video image of the conference materialand a display screen that displays the video image of the firstspecified user; therefore, efficiency of a video conference is improved,and user experience is also improved. Still another method includesobtaining one channel of encoded video signal into which a video imagesignal of a first specified user and a video data signal of a conferencematerial are synthesized; decoding the obtained synthesized channel ofencoded video signal, and virtually segmenting a display screen at alocal conference site into a preset quantity of display subscreens; anddisplaying a video image, which is obtained through decoding, of theconference material on at least one display subscreen obtained throughsegmentation, and displaying a video image, which is obtained throughdecoding, of the first specified user on another at least one displaysubscreen obtained through segmentation. In this solution, at aconference site, after the channel of encoded video signal into whichthe video image signal of the first specified user and the video datasignal of the conference material are synthesized is obtained, a displayscreen at the local conference site is virtually segmented into a presetquantity of display subscreens, the video image, which is obtainedthrough decoding, of the conference material is displayed on at leastone display subscreen obtained through segmentation, and the videoimage, which is obtained through decoding, of the first specified useris displayed on another at least one display subscreen obtained throughsegmentation, thereby achieving an effect of displaying a video image ofthe first specified user and a video image of the conference material ona same display screen at a same conference site. Because the conferencematerial and the first specified user are displayed on different displaysubscreens of only one display screen, that is, the conference materialand the first specified user do not need to be displayed separately ontwo display screens, problems that a videoconferencing system cannot bemoved easily and has relatively high costs and relatively poorflexibility due to many screens are effectively avoided. Further, whenpaying attention to the conference material and the first specified userat the same time, a conference participant does not need to shift a lineof sight between a display screen that displays the video image of theconference material and a display screen that displays the video imageof the first specified user; therefore, efficiency of a video conferenceis improved, and user experience is also improved.

The present disclosure is described with reference to the flowchartsand/or block diagrams of the method, the device (system), and thecomputer program product according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure. It should be understood that computer program instructionsmay be used to implement each procedure and/or each block in theflowcharts and/or the block diagrams and a combination of a procedureand/or a block in the flowcharts and/or the block diagrams. Thesecomputer program instructions may be provided for a general-purposecomputer, a dedicated computer, an embedded processor, or a processor ofany other programmable data processing device to generate a machine, sothat the instructions executed by a computer or a processor of any otherprogrammable data processing device generate an apparatus forimplementing a function in one or more procedures in the flowchartsand/or in one or more blocks in the block diagrams.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable memory that can instruct the computer or any other programmabledata processing device to work in a specific manner, so that theinstructions stored in the computer readable memory generate an artifactthat includes an instruction apparatus. The instruction apparatusimplements a function in one or more procedures in the flowcharts and/orin one or more blocks in the block diagrams.

These computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computeror another programmable data processing device, so that a series ofoperations and steps are performed on the computer or the otherprogrammable device, thereby generating computer-implemented processing.Therefore, the instructions executed on the computer or the anotherprogrammable device provide steps for implementing a function in one ormore procedures in the flowcharts and/or in one or more blocks in theblock diagrams.

Although some preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have beendescribed, persons skilled in the art can make changes and modificationsto these embodiments once they learn the basic inventive concept.Therefore, the following claims are intended to be construed as to coverthe preferred embodiments and all changes and modifications fallingwithin the scope of the present disclosure.

Obviously, persons skilled in the art can make various modifications andvariations to the embodiments of the present disclosure withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the embodiments of the presentdisclosure. The present disclosure is intended to cover thesemodifications and variations provided that they fall within the scopedefined by the following claims and their equivalent technologies.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for displaying a conference material ina video conference, comprising: determining a first position coordinateof a first specified user at a conference site using a soundlocalization technology; determining a second position coordinate of atleast one second specified user at the conference site using the soundlocalization technology; collecting a video image signal of theconference site; segmenting the video image signal of the conferencesite according to the first position coordinate to acquire a video imagesignal of the first specified user; segmenting the video image signal ofthe conference site according to the second position coordinate toacquire a video image signal of the at least one second specified user;acquiring a video data signal of a displayed conference material;synthesizing the video image signals of the first specified user and theat least one second specified user, and the video data signal of theconference material into one channel of encoded video signal; andsending the channel of encoded video signal to a second conference sitefor signal decoding and for displaying on a same display screen at thesecond conference site.
 2. The method according to claim 1, whereinsegmenting the video image signal of the conference site according tothe first position coordinate to acquire the video image signal of thefirst specified user comprises: matching the first position coordinatewith spatial position coordinates of the video image signal of theconference site to obtain a position of the video image signal of thefirst specified user in the video image signal of the conference site;determining a video image of the first specified user according to avideo image signal at the position using a facial recognitiontechnology; and segmenting the video image signal of the conference sitefrom the video image of the first specified user to acquire the videoimage signal of the first specified user.
 3. A method for displaying aconference material in a video conference, comprising: obtaining onechannel of encoded video signal into which a video image signal of afirst specified user, a video image signal of at least one secondspecified user, and a video data signal of a conference material aresynthesized; decoding the obtained channel of encoded video signal;virtually segmenting a display screen at a local conference site into apreset quantity of display subscreens; displaying a video image, whichis obtained through decoding, of the conference material on at least onedisplay subscreen obtained through segmentation in the display screen;displaying a video image, which is obtained through decoding, of thefirst specified user on a second display subscreen obtained throughsegmentation in the display screen; and displaying a video image, whichis obtained through decoding, of the at least one second specified useron at least a third display subscreen obtained through segmentation inthe display screen.
 4. The method according to claim 3, whereindisplaying the video image of the conference material on the at leastone display subscreen obtained through segmentation in the displayscreen comprises displaying the video image, which is obtained throughdecoding, of the conference material on at least two adjacent displaysubscreens obtained through segmentation in the display screen.
 5. Themethod according to claim 3, wherein displaying the video image of thefirst specified user on the second display subscreen obtained throughsegmentation in the display screen comprises displaying the video image,which is obtained through decoding, of each specified user on anindividual display subscreen obtained through segmentation in thedisplay screen.
 6. The method according to claim 3, wherein displayingthe video image of the conference material on the at least one displaysubscreen obtained through segmentation in the display screen, anddisplaying the video image, which is obtained through decoding, of thefirst specified user on the second display subscreen obtained throughsegmentation in the display screen comprises: displaying the videoimage, which is obtained through decoding, of the first specified useron a display subscreen that is selected from all display subscreens andthat is obtained through segmentation in the display screen; anddisplaying the video image, which is obtained through decoding, of theconference material on a display subscreen that is adjacent to theselected display subscreen.
 7. The method according to claim 3, furthercomprising: determining, when a role of a specified user of the at leastone second specified user is changed to a role of the first specifieduser, at least one display subscreen adjacent to a display subscreendisplaying a video image of the second specified user whose role ischanged; and displaying, in an interchanging manner, a video image inthe at least one display subscreen, which originally displays the videoimage of the conference material, and a video image of the specifieduser in the determined at least one display subscreen.
 8. The methodaccording to claim 3, further comprising: determining, when a specifieduser of the at least one second specified user speaks, at least onedisplay subscreen that is adjacent to the display subscreen displayingthe video image of the conference material and is different from thesecond display subscreen displaying the video image of the firstspecified user; and displaying, in an interchanging manner, a videoimage in a display subscreen, which originally displays a video image ofthe second specified user who speaks, and a video image in thedetermined at least one display subscreen.
 9. A conference endpoint,comprising: an image signal processor configured to: determine a firstposition coordinate of a first specified user at a conference site usinga sound localization technology; determine a second position coordinateof at least one second specified user at the conference site using thesound localization technology; collect a video image signal of theconference site; segment the video image signal of the conference siteaccording to the first position coordinate to acquire a video imagesignal of the first specified user; segment the video image signal ofthe conference site according to the second position coordinate of theat least one second specified user to acquire a video image signal ofthe at least one second specified user, and acquire a video data signalof a conference material; an image signal multiplexer configured tosynthesize the video image signals of the first specified user and theat least one second specified user, and the video data signal of theconference material that are acquired by the image signal processor intoone channel of encoded video signal; and a signal transceiver configuredto send the channel of encoded video signal synthesized by the imagesignal multiplexer to another conference site for signal decoding andfor displaying on a same display screen at the another conference site.10. The conference endpoint according to claim 9, wherein the imagesignal processor is configured to: match the first position coordinatewith spatial position coordinates of the video image signal of theconference site to obtain a position of the video image signal of thefirst specified user in the video image signal of the conference site;determine a video image of the first specified user according to a videoimage signal at the position by means of a facial recognitiontechnology; and segment the video image signal of the conference sitefrom the video image of the first specified user to acquire the videoimage signal of the first specified user.
 11. A conference endpoint,comprising: a signal transceiver configured to obtain one channel ofencoded video signal into which a video image signal of a firstspecified user, a video image signal of at least one second specifieduser, and a video data signal of a conference material are synthesized;a signal decoder configured to decode the channel of encoded videosignal obtained by the signal transceiver; and a processor configuredto: virtually segment a display screen at a local conference site into apreset quantity of display subscreens; display a video image, which isobtained by the signal decoder through decoding, of the conferencematerial on at least one display subscreen obtained throughsegmentation; display a video image, which is obtained by the signaldecoder through decoding, of the first specified user on a seconddisplay subscreen obtained through segmentation; and display a videoimage, which is obtained by the signal decoder through decoding, of theat least one second specified user on a third display subscreen obtainedthrough segmentation.
 12. The conference endpoint according to claim 11,wherein the processor is further configured to display the video image,which is obtained by the signal decoder through decoding, of theconference material on at least two adjacent display subscreens obtainedthrough segmentation.
 13. The conference endpoint according to claim 11,wherein the processor is further configured to display a video image,which is obtained by the signal decoder through decoding, of eachspecified user on an individual display subscreen obtained throughsegmentation.
 14. The conference endpoint according to claim 11, whereinthe processor is further configured to: display the video image, whichis obtained by the signal decoder through decoding, of the firstspecified user on any display subscreen obtained through segmentation;and display the video image, which is obtained by the signal decoderthrough decoding, of the conference material on a display subscreen thatis adjacent to a selected display subscreen.
 15. The conference endpointaccording to claim 11, wherein the first specified user is displayed ina highlighted form.
 16. The conference endpoint according to claim 11,wherein the first specified user is displayed in an animation form. 17.The conference endpoint according to claim 11, wherein the firstspecified user is displayed in a specified color.